The Color of Money

  • Thread starter Thread starter Eddie Felson
  • Start date Start date
E

Eddie Felson

Guest
Hey Keith. Im a big fan of the Color of money film (which I know you had a small part in)....and just pool films in general. Was wondering if you could tell me if Paul Newman and Tom Cruise were actually any good at pool?

cheers Adam.
 
Also, how did you get that opportunity?

It's cool that they used some real players in the movie, like you and Grady and Mizerak. After all, they could've just gone with all actors like they did with John Turturro and Forrest Whitaker.
 
I remember mike sigel saying on espn once about tom cruise if i recall and how tom was good enough that he could of played on the pro tour if he dedicated himself, i thought this was a lame thing to say considering the difficulty in playing pool professionally and only so few can do it. He had worked with tom in preparing him for the role if i recall. What are you're thoughts keith? To me it seemed like he was kissing tom cruise's ass, nothing against tom, he's a great actor and has carried many films.
________
 
Last edited:
I heard the opposite. Paul Newman did his own shots and can play a little. Tom Cruise couldn't play a lick. Maybe someone involved in the movie can tell us the truth. Sam
 
Johnson said:
I remember mike sigel saying on espn once about tom cruise if i recall and how tom was good enough that he could of played on the pro tour if he dedicated himself, i thought this was a lame thing to say considering the difficulty in playing pool professionally and only so few can do it. He had worked with tom in preparing him for the role if i recall. What are you're thoughts keith? To me it seemed like he was kissing tom cruise's ass, nothing against tom, he's a great actor and has carried many films.
Click to expand...


Take one look at Cruise shooting in the movie, particularly the shot where he had to elevate, and tell me seriously Sigel was telling the truth.
 
color of money

I heard in person from Ewa Laurence, that Paul Newman, did all his shots and is a incredible pool player, and the Shots that Tom Cruise did was set up to make him look better than he is. Basic Hollywood stuff.

And up untill like two weeks ago, i had no clue that Keith, was an actually pool player, untill i found AZbilliards and seen his Mug on the web site lol.

I just thought he was a actor.
 
If I am not mistaken, the producer saw Keith and wanted him in the movie. I think it was a perfect call and wish he had a bigger part, because he does embody the prototypical pool player. Go keith.....

Also, in pool hall junkies, Mars did all his shots and so did ricky schroder (sp?). Ricky had lessons though.
Jordan
 
Eddie Felson said:
Hey Keith. Im a big fan of the Color of money film (which I know you had a small part in)....and just pool films in general. Was wondering if you could tell me if Paul Newman and Tom Cruise were actually any good at pool? cheers Adam.
Click to expand...

Adam, Paul Newman was more of a natural when it came to shooting shots, and Tom Cruise was the rookie. Paul Newman had the stroke and stance of a pool player and didn't need as much help as Tom Cruise did.

I worked with Tom Cruise myself and tried to help him to look more like a pool player would when addressing the shots at the table. The camera was on a railroad, and we had to set up easy shots, so the actors could make them and execute them the proper way. Paul Newman shot all his shots, and Tom Cruise shot all his shots, but one. I believe it was the jump shot, which ended up taking 28 takes, with an end result of Mike Sigel shooting the shot for him as his double.

Tom Cruise is a perfectionist, and he was determined and really wanted to shoot all of his own shots. As you know, he tries to do all of his stunts as well. He was a pleasure to work with, very nice to me as well as all the other actors.

After the movie became a hit, I was invited to the awards ceremony in Hollywood, but I had found out that Paul Newman was not going to be able to attend because he was working on another project. This was Paul's first Academy Award playing Fast Eddie Felson in "The Color of Money," and I was proud to play Grady Seasons and be a part of this pool movie.

I wrote an article that came out a few months ago in InsidePOOL magazine about how I got selected for the role. To make a long story short, they weren't necessarily looking for the best pool player. They were looking for a character, and with all my antics and passion for the game, it finally paid off.
 
are you kidding??

StormHotRod300 said:
I heard in person from Ewa Laurence, that Paul Newman, did all his shots and is a incredible pool player, and the Shots that Tom Cruise did was set up to make him look better than he is. Basic Hollywood stuff.

And up untill like two weeks ago, i had no clue that Keith, was an actually pool player, untill i found AZbilliards and seen his Mug on the web site lol.

I just thought he was a actor.
Click to expand...

Keith is an actor, he's been hustling pool since he was a kid. Probably acts better than 70% of hollywood.... Sam
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top